Compensating mechanism



Aug. 2 1927.

w.` w. BENNER ET AL GOMPENSATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 23. 192s 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 2 1927.V

Filed Feb. 2s, 192s W. W. BENNER ET AL GOMPENSATING MEGHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 x Aug. z, 1927. 1,637,892

W. W; BENNER ET AL.

GOMPENSAI'ING MECHANISM Filed Feb.23. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 gvwe'nfow Patented Aug. 2, 1.927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF 1,637,892 Fics.

WIN'IHBOP W. BENNER, 0F CUYAHOGA FALLS, AND EDMUND A. HOENER, 0F AKRON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOBS T0 THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND R OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

BBEB COMPANY, OF AKRON,

COMPENSATING MECHANISM.

Application led February 23, 1923. Serial No. 620,712,

Our invention relates to compensating mechanism for use in effecting and maintaining a slack in a moving strip of fabric and it is designed particularly for use in performing th1s operation upon a continuous strip of -tire fabric which is being fed through a battery of cooperating units for applying various coatings of rubber to the strip.

In our copending application, Serial No. 638,497 iled May 12, 1923, we describe and claim a continuous calendering operation in which tire fabric is fed from a supply roll through a battery of units such as a drier, calenders, a selvage trimmer and winding mechanism.

It is the general purpose of this invention to provide a practical form of mechanism for effecting and maintaining a slack in the strip between two of the units of such a battery so that the calendering operation may be continued while fabric from a new roll is being spliced or otherwise attached to the end of the supply roll, for instance in the manner set forth in our copending application, Serial Number 605,058, filed December 5, 1922, or for maintaining an adequate supply so as to maintain a continuous operation of the system, allowing for temporary variations in the speeds ofthe several units.

Another purpose of our invention is to provide for controlling the speed of certain of the units of such a battery in accordance with the degree of slack in the strip and for stopping one or more of the units through the same medium.

Our invention is particulaily directed toward providing a .compensating mechanism adapted for performing the above functions and for use in conjunction with a standard form of rotary drying mechanism, the arrangement being such that both the drier and the compensator may be enclosed in a drying chamber and a great length of fabric maintained in the chamber in addition to that upon the drier. y These and other objects and advantages will presently appear when the following description and claims are read and upon reference to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating our compensating mechanism in conjunction with a drier and one of a, train-of calenders forming .a part of a battery for performing a continuous calendering operation.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the compensating mechanism drawn on an enlarged scale; l

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the compensating mechanism:

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view;

Figure 5 1s a s1 e elevational view of a controlling apparatus that is the compensating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Fi ure 7 is asimilar view, taken on the line -7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a detail view of a part of the controlling apparatus.

In the drawings there has been illustrated two units of a battery of mechanisms for continuously rubberizing or otherwise treatlng a strip of fabric, i. e., a drying unit 1 and a calendering unit 2. These form the second and third units of a battery such as that disclosed in our rst mentioned copending application and are sufficient to illustrate the application and operation of our invention forming the subject matter of this application.

operated by The drying unit 1 is the type that em-` bodies a plurality of heated drying rollers 3 geared togethergtp form two series of rollers through which the strip 4 is threaded 1n the manner illustrated in the drawings.

The arrangement of the rollers 3 is such that they lare'adapted to grip and pull the strip 4 from a source of supply, such as the splicing apparatus disclosed in our second mentioned copending application, and to feed it to the calender 2 from whence it passes to other units, as will be understood without further explanation. The rollers 3 of the drying unit 1 are driven from a motor 5, independently of the calender 2, and other units. l

The compensating mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 6, is arranged between these two units and ly adjacent the unit 1. It may be of any type of festooning apparatus, that shown comprising a series, preferably five, of parallel idler rollers 7, ranged in a common horizontalplane. The

preferably closel spaced apart, and arrollers 7 are supported at their ends upon an openframe 8 which is elevated a substantial distance above the drier unit 1. Vertical spaced uprights 9 support the frame 8 and serve an additional purpose presently apparent. open, vertically disposed frame 10 is guided to reciprocate between the uprights 9 and beneath the rollers 7. Sto s 11 are providedl near the base of each upright 9 to limit the downward movement of the frame. The frame 10 carries a series, preferably 4, of parallel rollers 12 which are horizontally disposed one above the other and will hereinafter be termed the compensating rollers, the rollers being of increasing diameter toward the lower portion of the frame.

The strip 4 is led from the drier unit 1, beneath an idler roller 13, thence upwardly and over the first roller 7, and then downwardly and beneath the lowermost compensating roller 12. From the lowermost cornpensating roller the 'strip 4 is led up over one of the rollers 7 and downwardly under the next compensating roller, this arrangement being repeated until it has been passed alternately around all of said rollers 7 and 12. From .the roller 7 to'which it is last passed, it is led over a take-off roller 14, located rearwardly of and above the rollers 7, and then downwardly beneath another idler 15. From the idler 15 the strip passes to the calendar 2 in a manner presently def scribed. Any of the rollers 7 or 14 may be formed with reversely spiralled ribs, as shownl in Figures 2 and 4, to spread the fabric laterally. i

Throughl the foregoing disposition of the rollers 7 and 12 and the strip 4, a plurality of vdepending folds or loops are provided in the strip, which may be described as nested, that is to say each loop hangs in the preceding loop. This arrangement of the strip provides for a great amount of slack reserve fabric between the units 1 and 2. The compensating rollers 12 suspend the frame 10 in the bights of these loopsl so that it will obviously be raised or lowered by any variation in the length of the loops.

Upon each upright 9 a pair of vertically aligned sprocket wheels 17 and 18 respectively are mounted, the wheels 17 being located adjacent the base of the uprights and the wheels 18 at the upper ends thereof.

-Each pair of wheels is connected by a 1,es7,soa i end thereof. 4Gears 22 mesh with beveled gears 23 affixed respectively upon the sprockets 18. Sprockets -17 and 18 and the gearing above described serve toequalize movement of both sides of the frame 10 between the uprights 9, and also another function as will presently appear.

As an emergency measure, the journal shaft of one of the sprockets 18 is extended and provided with aI brake drum `24. A friction band 25 is arranged around the drum 24, one end of the bandl being connected to a pivoted trigger arm 26. The arm 26 is weighted at one end, as at 27 and adapted to set the band against the rum when itis released. Normally, it is en aged by a trigger 28 which may be release by a cord 29 suitably arranged for operation vtrom any desired point remote from thel compensating mechanism. This braking mechanism is rovided to prevent a too sudden descent o the compensating rollers 12 and the frame 10 in the event that the strip 4 should break between the units 1 and 2,

or in any other contingency where this might occur. l

The drier unit 1 and the compensating mechanism 6 are designed to be enclosed in a suitable tower, as shown at 30, so that the heat from the unit 1 is confined and the' slack or looped portions of the strip 4 is vexposed to the action thereof. This is an important feature of our invention.

The stri 4 is enclosed for a substantial distance' a ter it leaves the tower 30 and` the calendar tothe rear thereof, where it is,

provided with'a down-take branch 35. The

mouth of the down-take 35 is provided with flexible self-closing lips, shown at 36, so that the conduit 34 is sealed to prevent the heated l air from escaping from the tower 30. The strip 4 is led from the before mentioned idler roller 15, through the conduit 34, over a suitably located idler roll 37 therein, and through the down-take 35 past the lips 36. From this point it passes through the calender rollers 38. lA suitable form of tensioning device 39 may be arranged between the down-take 35 andthe calender 2.

The shaft of one of the sprocket wheels 17 carries a gear wheel 4() that is designed to actuate mechanism 41 for controllin the stopping the ca r 2. As shown in the large gear wheel 61 meshes with the geary drawing Figures 5 toA 8, mechanism 41 com prises a base portion 42 that sup orts a horizontal shaft 43, which at its orward end carries a gear Wheel 44, in mesh with the gear 40. Adjacent the gear 44 three gear wheels 45, 46, and 47 are mounted upon the shaft 43. Gear, 45 is aiixed lto the shaft, whereas gears 46 and 47 are free to rotate thereon as a unit and are affixed to lone end of a revoluble tumbler bar 48 rotatably mountedk at its ends to revolve about the shaft 43. The remainder of the shaft 43l between the journaled ends of the bar 48, is threaded and carries an internally threaded nut 49 which is grooved at one point, as at 49, whereby it has a sliding engagement `with the tumbler bar 48, so that when the tumbler bar .is held stationary and the shaft 43 rotated, the nut 49 will be fed along the threaded portion of the shaft. At the opposite end of the shaft 43a switch box l50 is located from which a switch lever 51 ro- ]'ects in the path of an arm 49b carried) by the nut 49. Switch 51 is connected in any suitable manner as diagrammatically indicated .in Figure l by leads with ythe source of power comprisin motor 2 which actuates the calender 2 'so t at when the nut moves it in one direction the calender will be stopped and when it moves in the op-` posite direction it will be started. An ad- ]ustable stop collar 52, is threaded on shaft 43 and is held .in adjusted positions and from rotation relative to the shaft 43 by splines 52a in which are engaged screws 52", is adapted to be engaged by the nut 49 to limit movement of the nut in one direction. A large gear wheel 53 of sufncient width to mesh with both gears 45 and 46, is journaled above the shaft 43 so as to lock the gears together, whereby gears 46 and 47 and tumbler 48 a-re caused to move with the shaft 43. Gear 53 has a stripped area 54 of sufficient width to disengage it from the gear 45 when said gear 53 has made substantially a complete revolution. A disc 55, having a notch 57 in its edge, is affixed to the journal shaft 56 of the ear wheel 53. A bell crank 58 is pivoted adjacent the disc 55. One end of the bell crank carries a roller 59 for engaging the notch 57. A spring 60 normally urges the crank toward the center of the disc, so that when the gear wheel 53 and the disc have made one revolution, the roller 59 engages the notch 57 and yieldin ly holds them against further rotat-ion. second 47 and carries a smaller gear 62. Gear 62 meshes with a gear wheel 63 which is provided with a stripped area 64 and a lu 65. The lug 65 is arranged to engage a Xed bumper spring 66 when the gear 63 has comleted substantiall one revolution and just before the strippedarea 64 revolves over the gear 62. This arrangement prevents the gear 63 from making more than one revolution, but always causes it to mesh with the ear 62 when ear 62 is reversed. Gear 63 `1s fixed upon t e shaft 67 of a suitable form of rheostatic device, designated generally by the numeral 68.

The device 68 is connected to the drier motor 5 .in any suitable manner indicated in Figure 1 diagrammatically by leads 68'* and may comprise any standard form of rheostat and rotary contacts. This device forms, per se, no part of the present invention and has therefore been illustrated in a conventional manner. It is suiiicient to say that a rheostat and rotary contacts are connected with the shafts 67 and with the motor 5 in such manner that when the gear 63 and shaft are revolved' in one direction the speed of the motor 5 is accelerated and when the shaft and gear are revolved in the opposite direction the -reverse obtains. Other operations, such as contacts for starting and stopping the motor 5, may be provided for in the construction of the device 68, if desired.

Referring to the operationpof our invention, the compensator frame 10 and rollers 12 at their lowest operating point are slightly above the stops 11, in which position the motor 5 is running at low or normal speed and the calender is being driven at a speed suficient to take the fabric from-the compensator 6 and maintain the elements 10 and 12 in substantially this position. In this position of the compensator frame 10, the parts of the mechanism 41 are positioned substantially as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Assuming that a new roll of fabric is to be s liced onto the strip 4 at a point in front o the drier, the operator may stop they motor 5 thro h any suitably arran ed separate switch or utton, not shown, wereupon the calender 2 will take up the slack 1n the compensator and raise the framelO. This operation revolves sprockets 17 in the direction of the arrows. The shaft of theright-hand' sprocket, see Figure 2, carries the gear 40 through which the shaft 43 is revolved. Gear 53 is in the position shown in Figure 6, locking gears 46 and 47 and tumbler 48 to gear 45 whereby these elements are revolved until the stripped area 54 registers with the gear 45. Gears 46 and 47 and tumbler 48 are now unlocked from gear 45 and shaft 43 and cease to rotate and bell crank 58 engages the notch 57 in the disc 55 and yieldingly holds them against further rotation. Compensator frame 10 has now risen to a point approachin the limit of its upward movement, gears 4 61, 62 and 63 have revolved the rheostatic dem vices 68 so that when thev motor 5 is started its speed will be increased to the maximum. The nut 49 has been held in one position on the shaft 43 which is still being revolved. At this point if the splice is completed, the operator actuates the switch before mentioned, the motor ra idly feeds more fabric i to the compensator and the compensator frame 10 lowers and reverses movement of the shaft 43. The nut 49 bears against collar 52, picks up the tumbler 48, reverses ears 46, 47, 61, 62 and 63 and actuates the evice 68 to decrease the speed of the motor 5. At the same time gear 46 rotates gear 53 and disc 55 back toward starting position. Obviously in the event that no stoppage of the motor 5 is necessary and the speed of the calender 2 increases or dimm-- ishes relative to that of the motor 5, the o eration before described will take lace 1n lesser degree to retard or accelerate t e speed of the motor 5 and maintain the compensa# tor frame 10 at substantially the same hei ht. Should the operator be unable to comp ete the splice when the rheostatic device 68 has been adjusted to obtain the maximum speed of the motor 5, the nut 49 will be fed along the shaft 43, bein held against rotation thereon by the tum ler 48 which, as above described, is locked against rotation. When it reaches the switch 51, the calender will be stopped. Also in this contingency and when the motor 5 is started, the nut 49 will be fed back along the shaft 43 to cut in the calender and the speed of the motor 5 will not be dei creased until it has engagled the collar 52 whereupon it will pick up t e tumbler 48 andthe reverse operation, above described, of the gears 46, 47, 62, 63 and 53 will take place. If desired, the device 68 may be constructed so that when the compensator frame 10 engages stops 11 the motor 5 and ca lender 2 will be stopped, or a separate switch, not shown, may be provided to be actuated by the descent of the compensator frame 10 to stop both the motor 5 and the'calender.

The foregoing constitutes a detailed description of a preferred form of our inven'- tion. It is to be understood, however, that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

lWhat we claim is:

1. The combination with a calender and a drier for feeding a strip, of fabric thereto, of a compensating mec anism between the calender and the drier .adapted for forming a plurality of vertical nested' folds nin the strip said drier and mechanism being enclosed in a common chamber. f

2. The combination with a calender and a drier for feeding a strip of fabric theretoof a compensating mechanism between the drier and the calender adapted for forming a lurality of vertical nested folds inthe strip said drier and mechanism being enclosed in a common chamber through which the strip passes, and a conduit projectin from the Vchamber over lthe calender throng which the stri passes from said chamber.

3. The com ination with a calender and a drier for feeding a strip of fabric thereto,

of a compensating mechanism' adjacent thedrier, said drier and mechanism being en- .closed in a common chamber through which the strip passes, and a conduit projectin from the c amber over the calender throng which the strip passes from said chamber said conduit having a sealed outlet for the strip.

4. The combination with a calender and a drier for feeding a strip vof fabric thereto, of a compensating mechanism adjacent the drier through which the strip passes said drier and mechanism being enclosed in a common chamber.

5. The combination with a calender and a drier for feeding a strip of fabric thereto, of a compensating mechanism adjacent the drier, said drier and mechanism being enclosed in a common chamber through which the strip asses, and a conduit leading from the cham er to the calender through `which the strip passes from said chamber.

6. The combination with a calender and a drier for feeding a strip of fabric thereto, of a compensating mechanism between the drier and the calender adapted for forming a plurality of vertical folds in the strip, and means for enclosing the strip in its passage through the drier and compensator and to a point adjacent the calender. 7. The combination with a calender and a motor driven drier for feeding a strip of fabric thereto, of a compensating mechanism between the drier and the calender adapted for forming a plurality of vertical folds in the strip, and means actuated by the compensator for controlling the speed of the drier motor in accordance with the length of said folds and stopping the calender.

8. Compensating mechanism comprising, a series of elevated rollers arranged in a common horizontal plane, spaced apart uprights beneath the rollers, a frame adapted `to reciprocate between the uprights, super-v posed rollers in the frame, vertically aligned sprockts upon one of the .uprights, and a chain connection between the frame and said sprockets.

9. Compensating mechanism comprising, a series of elevated rollers arranged in a common horizontal plane, spaced apart uprights beneath the rollers, a frame adapted to reciprocate between the uprights,*rollers inthe frame, vertically aligned sprockets upon one of the uprights, vertically aligned s rockets upon the other upright, individual c ain connections between the frame and the sprockets of each upright, and a connection between the sprockets of each upright.

10. Compensating mechanism comprising, a series of elevated rollers arranged in a common horizontal plane, spaced apart uprights beneath the rollers, a. frame adapted to reciprocate between the uprights superposed rollers in the Aframe of progressively decreasing diameter, stops adjacent the base of the uprights to limit downward movement of the frame, and a brake device for one roller of said series.

11. Com ensating mechanism comprising, a series of) elevated 'rollers arran ed in a common horizontal plane, a roller a ove one roller of said series, spaced apart uprights supporting said rollers, a frame adapted to reciprocate between the uprights, superposed rollers in the frame, vertically aligned sprockets on one ofthe uprights, and a chain connection between the frame and the sprockets.

12. In an apparatus for rubberizing fabric, the combination of a drying mechanism, a calender, a motor for driving the dryin calen er, means for forming a reserve supply of fabric between the drier and the calender, and controlling mechanism actuated by the fabric in the reserve for both said motors.

13. In an apparatus for rubberizing fabric, the combination with a calender of means for conducting fabric to the calender, comprising means for storing a reserve supply of the fabric, and means to stop the operation of the calender upon depletion of the reserve supply.

mechanism, a motor for driving the,

fabric, the combmation with a calender of means for conducting fabric to the calender, comprising means for storing a reserve supply of the fabric, and means to stop and start the calender upon exhaustion or replenishing of the reserve su ply.

fdr rubberizing 15. In an apparatus fabric, a drying apparatus, a festooning device, a calender, driving mechanism for the drying apparatus and the calender, and controlling devices for both said mechanisms operated by the festooning device.

16. In combination, a calender for rubberizin fabric, a drier for feeding a strip of fabric thereto, said drier and -said calender being independently driven, a single com- Eensating mechanism for taking up slack etween the drier and the calender, and means controlled by the amount of slack in the compensator for controlling the operation of both the drier and the calender.

17. In combination, two sets of power operated rolls feeding material from one to the other in progression, independent power means for driving each set of rolls, anda single means responsive to variations in slack between the sets of rolls for controlling both of said independent drive means.

WINTHROP W. BENNER. EDMUND A. HOENER. 

